Former POW: Unity is a key to survival

Sierra Vista Herald, Sierra Vista Arizona ^ | Bill Hess

[SandRat]

FORT HUACHUCA — Unity is a part of soldier’s survival kit, a Korean War POW told thousands of soldiers standing on Chaffee Parade Field on Friday morning.

The sun had just broken, bringing bright rays through light cloud cover and to soldiers of the 11th Signal Brigade and 111th Military Intelligence Brigade, as well as a few Air Force members assigned to the post. In the stands, some civilian sat. All were waiting for the start of the annual fort POW/MIA Walkathon.

“Unity helped me and others survive,” Al Simpson said about the time he served as a prisoner of war after being captured by Chinese forces who came to support the North Koreans, their fellow communists.

Simpson’s job on Friday morning could be likened to being a cheerleader before an athletic event.

But the annual walkathon is not a fun event. It is a time to remember those who served in America’s armed forces and either became POWs or are still carried on the roles as missing-in-action.

Those days more than a half century ago, when Simpson and other Americans and allied forces shivered in the cold and sweated in the heat the Korean Peninsula is famous for, are still part of the retired Army master sergeant’s memories.

He also has memories of how the POWs came together, especially how the black GIs, such as he, who kept faith with America as their captors tried to turn them away from what they knew the United States stood for.

“The spirit of unity in America goes back a long time,” Simpson said. “It is one of the driving forces (or the nation).”

The reason unity is an important factor in the makeup of the country is because it is a major element of liberty, he said.

“As POWs we learned the value of unity. We each drew strength from unity,” Simpson said.

Moving ahead to the troubled world of today, he spoke about the conflict in Iraq, where one soldier is listed as MIA, and Afghanistan.

The adversary facing America today has no moral compass and that makes the enemy more dangerous as the events on Sept. 11, 2001, have shown, Simpson said.

Many who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan or who will be deploying to those areas were on the field Friday.

Simpson said Americans must reach out to God to help strengthen the nation’s unity.

“We cry out ‘where’s God?’” he said. “The question is ‘where are we?’ ”

As the nation reunites, it must look to God, Simpson said. When that happens, Americans will find the answer, especially for those who go in harm’s way, he said.

“God is there. He is always there,” Simpson said.

Looking at those on the field, the soldiers, airmen and others who were to honor the POWs and MIAs, he simply said, “Let the walkathon begin.”

And it did, as companies, battalions and brigades marched off, some calling out cadence, some singing and others silent.

SENIOR REPORTER Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.

[SandRat]

Soldiers from Fort Huachuca start their march Friday in commemoration of the annual POW/MIA Walkathon. (By Ed Honda-Herald/Review)

[SandRat]

Soldiers of Fort Huachuca stand at attention before the start of the annual POW/MIA Walkathon in commemoration of past and present prisoners of war and missing in action. (By Ed Honda-Herald/Review)

[PetroniusMaximus]

"He also has memories of how the POWs came together, especially how the black GIs, such as he, who kept faith with America as their captors tried to turn them away from what they knew the United States stood for."


Sobering and frightening.

[SkyPilot]

"We cry out ‘where’s God?’” he said. “The question is ‘where are we?’ ” As the nation reunites, it must look to God, Simpson said. When that happens, Americans will find the answer, especially for those who go in harm’s way, he said. “God is there. He is always there,” Simpson said

He spoke to the root problem Liberals have. They think they are gods, and will never recognize the real one.